Ndikumana slams Ferwafa over labelling him a foreigner

Former Amavubi Captain Hamad ‘Katauti’ Ndikumana has lashed out at Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) over calling him a foreigner yet he claims to have the necessary documents to prove that he is a national. Ferwafa recently instituted a commission to investigate players who had acquired Rwandan nationality illegally and the Commission has now released a list of 28 players who acquired nationality illegally. The list includes Ndikumana and Rayon Sport’s Peter Otema (Peter Kagabo). The Commission advised the players to return any documents that they may have got and follow the right procedure for those who may want to get Rwandan nationality. However, Ndikumana who captained the national football team Amavubi and was part of the side that represented Rwanda in the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia, says he is qualified to be a Rwandan because one of his parents (mother) is Rwandan. “I have documents that include an Identity card, passport and voter’s card which show that I am Rwandan. My mother is a national. My passport has been renewed three times, I even voted in the 2003 Presidential elections, how can they claim that I’m not Rwandan,” a furious Ndikumana said. The Espoir defender who also played for Rayon Sport during their glorious years in the late 1990s says he started playing for the Amavubi in 1996 and spent close to 18 years playing yet his nationality had never been subject for debate. Ferwafa saving face Thirty-six-year-old Ndikumana reasons that Ferwafa is embarrassed by the Daddy Birori debacle and is trying to save its image by going after him and several others. Caf banned Rwanda from the African Nations Qualifiers last month after the former Kiyovu striker was found to be holding two different passports with two different identities. Of the 28 players that Ferwafa found to be foreigners, eight of them have featured for the national team which is ironical because you have to be Rwandan to play for Amavubi. The eight include: Frederick Ndaaka, Peter Otema alias Peter Kagabo, Hussein Cyiza Mugabo, Hamadi ‘Katauti’ Ndikumana, Janvier Muderwa Balwebani, Arafat Ilunga alias Arafat Serugendo and Jerome Sina. According to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, a person can become Rwandan if they are born on Rwandan territory, are married to a Rwandan, adopted by Rwandans and have Rwandan parents.

Sports

Ndikumana slams Ferwafa over labelling him a foreigner